Electrical connector



Jan. 13, 1948. H. G. SULLIVAN' ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Sept. 21, 1944 gmc/who@ Patented Jan. 13, 1948 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Harry G. Sullivan, De Land, Fla., assigner to Mer.. chandising Engineers, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 21, 1944, Serial No. 555,143

2 Claims. (Cl. 173-259) This invention relates to electrical connectors; and more particularly, to the problem of securing cabe to a connector. In the drawing I have illustrated a connector suitable for battery terminals, but my invention is suitable for other uses,

Heretofore the securing of the connector to the cable has presented a real problem. Solder is usually used, or an expansible lock ring, both of which require time, and in the case of solder, a loose connection will result due to vibration.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a quickly assembled connector which will not loosen or allow the cable to pull out, will prevent acid corrosion when used with battery terminals, and will permit the assembly of cable and connections in varying lengths without the necessity of carrying a large stock of different length cable connections.

Other objects will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective of the connector;

Figure 2 is a. perspective of the connector and cable in place, illustrating the assembly thereof; and

Figure 3 is a large vertical section showing the cable in place in the connector.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar parts are designated by like numerals:

Numeral 4 designates a connector suitable for use with a battery terminal having a tapered shank 5 and a tapered bore 6 with tapered threads 'l formed on the inner surface, the threads and adjacent portions of the shank being of harder metal than the core of the cable to be used with the connector, with a a grease receptacle 8 formed at the innermost part of the bore 6. A cable 9 of the usual construction composed of copper wiring I0 and a non-conducting covering Il, is used with the connector.

As actually used, the cable 9 will have its covering Il removed partly the depth of the bore 6 and forced into the bore by rotating either the cable or the connector, as illustrated in Figure 2. The soft copper, or other metal, used for this purpose will have threads formed corresponding to the threads l of tapering depth as the cable is progressively forced into the bore, with a rm, quick connection resulting.

It has been found that grease will not only act as a lubricant, but form a seal aganst corrosion, particularly from acid fumes, and the forcing of the cable into the grease receptacle or chamber 8 will force some of the grease out and form a seal. Such a connection can be made in the eld with no additionual apparatus, and can be repaired without loss of large lengths of cable. Likewise the connection can be of any length, or at any point. The casting forming the connector can assume different forms and proportions adapted for the particular use.

Numerous variations may doubtless be devised by persons skilled in the art without departing from the principles of my invention. I, therefore, desire no limitations to be imposed on my invention, except such as are indicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. The combination of a cable and connector, the connector comprising a shank having a recess therein, a tapered screw thread on the interior of said recess decreasing in diameter inwardly, and a chamber having lubricant therein at the inner` end of said recess, the cable comprising a core of metal softer than the threads of the shank and of such diameter as to be bitingly engaged by the threads at the inner end of said recess, and an insulating cover ior said core of such diameter as to be bitingly engaged by the threads at the outer end of said recess, said cable having the insulation removed from the end of said core for a distance less than the length of the threaded portion of said recess, said cable having threads formed on its core and insulation by rotation of said cable in said recess, whereby when the cable is inserted in said recess the lubricant is forced through the convolutions of said threads to lubricate the cable, and the insulation forms an effective seal to prevent loss of the lubricant.

2. The combination of a cable and connector, the connector including a shank having a threaded bore therein closed at its inner end and open at its outer end, the inner threaded portion being smaller diametrically than the outer threaded portion, the portion of said bore adjacent the closed end constituting a grease chamber having lubricant therein, said cable comprising an exposed core portion at one end of softer metal than the threads of said shank bore and an adjacent insulated portion, said core portion being of such diameter as to be bitingly engaged by the threads of said inner portion, screwed thereinto and having complementary threads cut thereon by the act of screwing, said insulated portion being of such diameter as to be bitingly engaged by the threads on the outer portion of said shank bore, screwed thereinto and likewise having threads cut thereon by the act of screwing, and a. grease seal in the joint between the threads of said shank bore and the complementary threads of said core portion and insulated portion of said cable, formed by an extrusion under pressure of grease from said grease chamber.

HARRY G. SULLIVAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references areV of record'in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number.- 

